Cubs sign top Draft pick Hoerner

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have signed first-round pick Nico Hoerner, inking the Stanford shortstop for $2.724 million, which was his full slot value for the No. 24 pick. Hoerner was to report to the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and then join Class A Short-Season Eugene.

"Here's a guy we're excited to get," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Wednesday. "I think he's going to have the ability to play shortstop and also the ability to play all over the diamond. He hits the ball hard. He puts the ball in play. We love the makeup. ... We feel he's a guy who will grow into some power."

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have signed first-round pick Nico Hoerner, inking the Stanford shortstop for $2.724 million, which was his full slot value for the No. 24 pick. Hoerner was to report to the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and then join Class A Short-Season Eugene.

"Here's a guy we're excited to get," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Wednesday. "I think he's going to have the ability to play shortstop and also the ability to play all over the diamond. He hits the ball hard. He puts the ball in play. We love the makeup. ... We feel he's a guy who will grow into some power."

Hoerner was busy with final exams last week at Stanford, which delayed the signing.

Hoerner batted .345 in 57 games with Stanford this past season, hitting 17 doubles, six triples and two home runs, while driving in 40 runs. A right-handed hitter, the junior from Oakland, Calif., was named to the All-Tournament team in the NCAA regional.

The Cubs have had success with position players taken in the first round as of late. That list includes Javier Baez (2011), Albert Almora Jr. ('12), Kris Bryant ('13), Kyle Schwarber ('14) and Ian Happ ('15), who are all on the current Cubs roster.

According to MLB.com's Jim Callis, the Cubs also have signed eighth-round pick Zach Mort, a right-handed pitcher from George Mason, and ninth-round selection Derek Casey, a right-handed pitcher from Virginia. Mort signed for $140,000, while Casey signed for $130,000.